If you have tested positive for a wheat allergy, one of the hardest parts is adjusting to this new way of eating. Here are my top 3 delicious wheat-free replacements for patients who have been diagnosed with Coeliac’s – or those of you interested in mixing up your diet.

TIP # 1 - BUCKWHEAT

Don’t let the name fool you, this is great wheat-free grain that is dense and will keep you feeling full. Buckwheat bread is a hearty replacement for rye, and the flour is perfect for baking.

TIP # 2 - ZOODLES

When it comes to pasta the most common replacement is corn - yet this so processed that many people with sensitive gut claim this can be as painful as the real thing. For a lighter alternative, try cooking strips of zucchini - or 'zoodles' as they're commonly known - or look out for pasta made from soya or back-beans.

TIP # 3 - FlOURLESS CAKE

Gluten free pastries are an oxymoron, as it is gluten that gives dough its elasticity. Instead of the usual spongecake fanfare, you’ll have to make do with flourless cakes and friands which have an almond-meal base.

It's important to keep in mind...

As Coeliac’s disease is life-threatening, the danger of cross contamination can still be pretty real.

If you are Coeliac, don’t be afraid to ask restaurants if the oil that they are frying in is contaminant free.

If you're ever in doubt about the status of your allergy, chat to you GP and get tested.

Coeliac's disease is an audio immune disorder that means the lining of your small intestine is susceptible to attack from gluten - a protein found in wheat, rye and barley.

Although it’s been a buzzword in recent years, the symptoms of Coeliac’s has been written about as far back at the first century AD by a Greek physician named Aretaeus of Cappadocia.

As many people as there are who are claiming to be Coeliac, only 1% of the population has this auto-immune disease.

As this allergy is life-threatening - and the only way to know is to be tested - if you suffer any form of allergic reaction like swelling or pain in your gut or joints when eating wheat, chat to your GP right away who will recommend a blood test by an immunologist.

For patients who aren’t Coeliac but experience similar symptoms, learn more about gluten intolerance (and how it is often misdiagnosed) here.